as "Cantey's Rifles", from Russell County; Co. "B", known as the "Midway Southern Guards", from Barbour County; Co. "C", no nickname given, from Macon County; Co. "D", known as the "Fort Browder Roughs", from Barbour County; Co. "E", known as the "Beauregards", from Dale County (which then included parts of present-day Geneva and Houston counties); Co. "F", known as the "Brundidge Guards", from Pike County; Co. "G", known as the "Henry Pioneers", from Henry County (which then included nearly all of present-day Houston County); Co. "H", known as the "Glenville Guards", from Barbour and Dale counties; Co. "I", "Quitman Guards", from Pike County; Co. "K", known as the "Eufaula City Guard", from Barbour County; and Co. "L", no nickname given, from Pike County. Following its formal swearing-in, the 15th Alabama was ordered to Pageland Field, Virginia, for training and drill. During their sojourn at Pageland, the regiment lost 150 men to measles. In September 1861, the 15th was transferred to Camp Toombes, Virginia, in part to escape the measles outbreak. Despite the move, over 200 members of the regiment died of smallpox that winter. Equipment Companies "A" and "B" of the 15th Alabama were equipped with the M1841 Mississippi Rifle, a .54 caliber percussion rifle that had seen extensive service in the Mexican–American War and was highly regarded for its accuracy and ease of use. The other companies in the regiment were given older "George Law" smoothbore muskets, which had been converted from flintlocks to percussion rifles. Later, the regiment received British Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-muskets and Springfield Model 1861 rifled muskets. Since the 15th had initially enlisted for three years, it received its arms from the Confederate government, which refused to provide weapons to any regiment enlisting for a lesser period. While details of the specific uniforms worn by other companies of the 15th has not been preserved, Oates' Co. "G" is recorded to have sported, in addition to their red and gray clothing, a "colorful and diverse attire of headgear". Each cap bore an "HP" insignia, which stood for "Henry Pioneers" (though some said it actually meant "Hell's Pelters"). Each soldier also wore a "secession badge", with the motto: "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity", which had been the motto of the French Revolution. Early service and campaigns Valley Campaign At Camp Toombs, the 15th Alabama was brigaded with the 21st Georgia Volunteer Infantry, the 21st North Carolina Infantry and